Furthermore, the firm can offer more choices of services to customers. Look around on their website; Alexanders Removal Services does not offer packages, such as distance with numbers of men do the packing and carrying. The package offers will save time for customers as they do not have to choose charge on distance, number of carriers and weight of their packing.
Involve mobile phone in ordering process is the new business opportunity. Mobile phone is the communication tool that everyone have at least one, therefore, setting a mobile service order is necessary. If the customer does not have access to the Internet, he or she can make an order through mobile phone instantly.
Advertising the business on other websites is a good opportunity. According to Allen (2005), Internet media is the most effective way to advertise the business. Take the business information, such as offers and services, and then market it in an attractive way.
- Qualifications
To establish the business, qualifications such as tax number and business license are needed; because without tax number and business license, the business is illegal. Therefore, those qualifications allow them to do business.
The next step is to raise fund. Business needs fund to start, they can loan from the bank, family and friends investment or through partnership. Fund then will be used to hire employees, premises, equipment and vans. Other part of fund is used for advertisement and website set up.
Then, they have to find human resource by recruiting people, hire premises and vans. These are basic set up for a business. They also have to set out their policies of employee, customers, refund and exchange, sick pay, holiday pay and others.
- The Important of Information Technology
The information technology can advantage the business more than other business. For example, communicate with customers. The website content is how the business communicates with their customers. The clients like to know about the business, its history, existing customers’ experience and more.
Alexanders Removal Services can add electronic order on the website. Because when customers found their ideal choice, then they do not have to contact the services, they can just make an order online. So, the business received the order, process the paper work and contact the customers to discuss about the destination and discount. Moreover, the business also saves money on labour, as they need less staff to take orders than before.
Alexanders Removal Services can send out advertised email to attract new customers. Due to the growth of the Internet, email has become the most popular way to communicate and also save time for both recipients and senders. Hence, email is the best way to communicate between customers and business. Sending advertise email is less expensive than sending leaflet to households.
- Creating Website
Nowadays, most of the businesses use IT to communicate with customers, introduce themselves and expand the business images. Alexanders Removal Services is one of them. Using information technology gives the business advantages over other businesses.
Along with the electronic order, the business has to consider IT privacy. Nowadays, IT privacy has become very important to consumers, and any act that against that will be consider breaking the law. Hence, private software on the website is needed to assure customers that their information will not be given to the third party.
Alexanders Removal Services can put some photographs of them and their properties, for examples, storages, vans and staffs. Customers like to see what the business has and how they operate. Photographs of the satisfied customers can also be useful to attract new clients, because they feel safe and trust the business.
Alexanders Removal Services can put a forum in their website for existing customers. A forum is where the existing customers can post their experience with the business for new customers. This is highly creditable for the business, because new customers will know the experience that other customers had and decide to choose Alexanders Removal Service or not. In addition, this forum can also apply to employees to show if their employer treat them well. This is also creditable for the business, as clients know who they are doing business with. In addition, the business can use the forum for customers to give their idea to improve the service, or a little satisfaction survey, so the business can improve them better.
A cost calculating is what the business needs to put on their website. Price table on their website is good, however, customers have to calculate themselves and it may lead to confusion. Hence, the IT can put a cost calculation on the website next to the price table. Then, customers only have to type in location, van and carrier needed to know how much it will cost per hour. When the relocation day arrives, they only multiply it by hours.
Using the Internet will save the Alexanders Removal Services money of hire staff to taking orders and customer service by phone. With electronic order and online customer service, the quality is the same as doing so by phone. Beside, the business does not have to pay huge phone bill as they have the same service online.
- Conclusion
A small business should consider the opportunity to strengthen the business, introduce the services to many potential customers and use the information technology, which is growing fast. Alexanders Removal Services is one of them. There are many opportunities that the business can do to expand itself, and the useful of the Internet will also help them success in the future.
Reference
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Allen, S. (2005), Best Business Opportunity 2005. About, Inc., USA [online]. Available at: [Accessed on Dec, 2005]
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Alexanders Removal Services, (2005), United Kingdom [online]. Available at: [Accessed on Dec, 2005]
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Page 48, The Internet and E-commerce (2005), ACT Education Solution Ltd., Australia [book].
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Page 49, E-commerce in Small Business (2005), ACT Education Solution Ltd., Australia [book].
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Zahorsky, D. (2006), Starting a Small Business 101. About, Inc., USA [online]. Available at: [Accessed on Dec, 2005]
